Page 1873 - Politics
Pondy CM greets people of 3 NE states on statehood day
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy Monday greeted the people of the three North Eastern States--Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura--on their 47th statehood day. In his message, he said these states had made good progress in several sectors adding "congratulations to the people." Narayanasamy, who has been urging the centre to concede Puducherry's statehood demand said, "we should also strive hard to get statehood for Puducherry." The chief minister had in July last year led a delegation of MLAs of the ruling Congress, DMK and opposition AIADMK to Delhi to present a detailed memorandum to union ministers and leaders of various political parties making out a strong case for grant of statehood to Puducherry. The territorial Assembly had adopted resolutions on more than 18 occasions urging the Centre to concede the demand of Puducherry for statehood. Puducherry along with its outlying regions of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam became a union territory in 1962 in the wake of de ..
Javadekar's remark reflect BJP's fascist thinking: Owaisi
AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that central Minister Prakash Javadekar's warning of anarchy if Prime Minister Narendra Modi doesn't retain power reflects the 'fascist thinking' of the BJP.
Israel says strikes Iranian targets in Syria after rocket
Israel struck what it said were Iranian targets in Syria early Monday in response to missile fire it blamed on Iran, sparking concerns of an escalation after a monitor reported 11 fighters killed. Israel announced the strikes against facilities it said belonged to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force as they were occurring, continuing its recent practice of speaking more openly about such raids. It said the strikes were in response to a medium-range, surface-to-surface missile the Quds Force fired from Syria at the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Sunday, which Israeli air defences intercepted. "We saw that as an unacceptable attack by the Iranian troops - not proxies, not Shiite militias, not Syrian forces - Iranian troops firing an Iranian-made missile from the vicinity of Damascus towards sovereign Israel," Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus told journalists. Israel said targets included munitions stores, a site at Damascus International Airport that was ...
Kremlin says peace talks with Japan a 'drawn out' process
The Kremlin on Monday dampened expectations of any breakthrough at the upcoming summit between the leaders of Russia and Japan, saying striking a peace deal would be a very "drawn out" process. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet Tuesday in Moscow, part of revived negotiations aiming to formally end World War II. The peace process stalled in the 1950s due to a dispute over the Kuril islands the Soviet army occupied in the last days of the war. "The president has said from the start that the issue of signing a peace agreement with Japan will be very drawn out in terms of time," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists hours before Abe's expected touchdown in the Russian capital. "The talks are in their initial stage," he said. Tokyo claims as their own the so-called southern Kurils, a string of islands just north of Hokkaido which it calls Northern Territories. In the 1950s, the Soviet Union had said it would be willing to ...
CJI recuses from hearing plea challenging appointment of M N Rao as interim CBI chief
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi Monday recused himself from hearing a plea challenging the government's January 10 order appointing M Nageswara Rao as interim CBI director, saying he would be taking part in the meeting to select the CBI director on January 24. The high-powered Selection Committee, comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CJI and the Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, is likely to meet on January 24 to appoint new CBI Director. The post of CBI Director is lying vacant ever since the government removed Alok Verma and appointed Additional Director Rao as interim chief till the appointment of a new director. "I am participating in the selection committee meeting and so I will not be hearing this," said the CJI. The bench, also comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna, then said that the PIL filed by NGO 'Common Cause' would be heard by some other appropriate bench. Rao was made the interim CBI director after the Selection Committee removed Verma as chief .
It's going to be advantage BJP in 2019 general elections, says Jaitley
Dismissing opposition parties' 'Mahagathbandhan' as unviable and unworkable, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Monday said its going to be advantage BJP in the next general election as an aspirational society will not commit a "collective suicide" by voting for a short-lived political alliance. The two-fold strategy of the opposition parties for the 2019 general elections is to pursue anti-Modi agenda and take advantage of the electoral arithmetic, he said in a Facebook post titled 'Agenda for 2019 Modi Vs Chaos'. People are more intelligent than what many politicians think, Jaitley said, adding they will never choose chaos as an option. "The BJP and NDA have to be prepared for a battle for a 50 per cent vote in the direct fight contest. Many States will still witness triangular contests. If a second term for Prime Minister Modi is the issue, it is advantage BJP. The election will be more presidential. "If negativism is the political campaign in an aspirational nation, it won't work. If .
Veteran Tripura tribal leader dead
Veteran Tripura tribal leader Nagendra Jamatia died here after prolonged illness, sources said on Monday.
Suicide attack on Kurdish-US convoy in Syria kills 5: monitor
A suicide car bomb attack on a military convoy in northeastern Syria Monday killed five members of a Kurdish-led force accompanying US-led coalition troops, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said five fighters from the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces were killed in the attack, which occurred on a road in Hasakeh province.
May seeks to break Brexit deadlock with 'Plan B'
UK Prime Minister Theresa May is set to present her Brexit Plan-B on Monday in a desperate attempt to overturn last week's humiliating Commons defeat and convince Tory Brexiteers to support her withdrawal deal with the EU.
Bowing to U.S. pressure, Germany bans Iran airline from its airspace
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany has bowed to U.S. pressure to ban from its airspace an Iranian airline accused of ferrying weapons and advisers to help support President Bashar Al-Assad's forces in Syria's civil war.
Trump achieves 'historic' results in first two years: White House
As Donald Trump completed two years of his presidency, the White House claimed that the US has seen "historic" achievements, including an economic boom, creation of over five million new jobs and China held accountable for its "unfair" trade practices. Trump assumed office on January 20, 2017. But during these two years, America has been experiencing a bitter political divide which is reflected in the ongoing partial government shutdown for a record nearly one month. This is a result of the sharp differences between the ruling Republican led by Trump and the opposition Democrats, which is now in a majority in the House of Representatives, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over Trump's controversial USD 5.7 billion border wall proposal. But for the political quagmire in Washington DC, the White House on Sunday patted itself as a historically successful two years of Trump's presidency. "Honoured to serve as Trump's Vice President these past two ..
Gabbard defends her meeting with Assad
Democratic presidential aspirant Tulsi Gabbard has defended her controversial decision to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017, saying that American leaders must meet with foreign leaders "if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country." Gabbard, 37, the first Hindu elected to US Congress and a four-time Democratic lawmaker, earlier this month announced she will run for President in 2020. Gabbard had met Assad during a trip to Syria in January 2017. The Syrian leader is believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians. "No, I think that it is, it continues to be very important for any leader in this country to be willing to meet with others, whether they be friends or adversaries or potential adversaries if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country," Gabbard, who represents Hawaii, said in an interview to CNN when asked if she regrets the meeting. "...you often acknowledge and bring to .
British PM to unveil new Brexit strategy
British Prime Minister Theresa May unveils her Brexit "Plan B" to parliament on Monday after MPs shredded her EU divorce deal, deepening the political gridlock 10 weeks from departure day. Britain will crash out of the European Union on March 29 unless MPs can force a delay or come up with an alternative plan that Brussels is also happy with, before the deadline. London and Brussels have spent the best part of two years working on the divorce deal but MPs in parliament's lower House of Commons comprehensively rejected it on Tuesday. EU leaders have signalled they could alter the agreement if May dropped some of her negotiating "red lines" but British media on Monday reported that she would instead attempt to negotiate some changes to the existing agreement. The reports were met with scepticism in Europe. "I don't think it can be saved by marginal adjustments in the current plan. I don't think she can convince MPs by presenting the same thing to them with slight tweaks," Spanish ...
RJ govt examining committee's report on formation of new districts: Minister
Rajasthan Revenue minister Harish Chaudhary informed the legislative assembly Monday that the government was examining a report prepared by a high level committee on the formation of new districts in the state. Replying to a question on the formation of new districts, he informed the House that the committee set up by a government order of January 20, 2014 had submitted its report in 2018 and it was being examined. During the question hour, the minister said any decision on formation of new districts will be taken on the basis of financial resources and administrative requirement. "Appropriate decision will be taken as per the administrative requirement and availability of financial resources," he said.
Sena targets Modi for attacking opposition's show of unity
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Shiv Sena Monday wondered why the coming together of 22 opposition parties gave him "shivers" and asked him not to live in an illusion that his government is "immortal". Referring to the opposition's show of unity at a rally organised by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Satrurday, the Sena, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamna', said the West Bengal chief minister was taking the Modi-Shah combine head-on. "Most of the leaders who attended the rally, including Banerjee, were once allies of the BJP under Atal Bihari Vajpayee's leadership and there is no need to ridicule them. Modi's government is not an enemy of the country but he should not live in an illusion that his government is 'amar' (immortal)," the publication said. Distancing itself from the coming together of several regional parties on one platform, the Sena, an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, however, defended their right to criticise the party in ...
From power for 50 yrs, BJP leaders now say won't return for 200 yrs if party loses 2019: Patel
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel took a broad swipe at the BJP on Monday, saying the ruling party leaders used to claim that they would remain in power for 50 years but now they "fear" if they lose the 2019 general election, they might not return to power for 200 years. His remark appeared to be in reference to BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad's statement quoting his party chief Amit Shah projecting at the Bharatiya Janata Party national executive in September that the BJP will rule the country for 50 years. "With the evolution of Opposition Unity their body language has changed. Fear is visible. Earlier they used to say that BJP will remain in power for 50 years. Now they are saying if they lose they won't come back in power for 200 years," Patel said on Twitter. The statement came two days after leaders of more than 20 opposition parties, including the Congress, gathered in Kolkata at a massive rally to project unity and vowed to oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi from power in ...
Rahul greets people of Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura on statehood day
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday greeted the people of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura on the three northeastern states' statehood day. He also wished prosperity, happiness and well being to the people. "I extend my warm greetings to the people of Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura on their state foundation day. All of you are very special to us. We have full faith in your potential. I pray for your prosperity, happiness and well-being," Gandhi said in a Facebook post. Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura became full-fledged states on January 21, 1972. The Congress is out of power in the three states, though it headed the previous governments in Manipur and Meghalaya.
Will quit the day BJP leaderships asks me to: Shatrughan Sinha
Unfazed by threats of action by the BJP, dissident MP Shatrughan Sinha says his sympathies are with the opposition and that he will quit his party the day the high command demands.
Israel hits Iranian targets in Syria
The Israel military on Monday said it has hit Iranian targets around the Syrian capital Damascus in retaliation to a rocket fired from Syria towards the occupied Golan Heights.
Rahul Gandhi condoles death of Siddaganga Mutt seer
Congress president Rahul Gandhi condoled Monday the death of Siddaganga Mutt chief Shivakumara Swamiji, saying his passing away leaves behind a deep spiritual void. "I am sorry to hear about the passing of Shivakumar Swami Ji, Pontiff of the Siddaganga Mutt. Swami Ji was respected and revered by millions of Indians, from all religions and communities. His passing leaves behind a deep spiritual void. My condolences to all his followers," he tweeted. Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge requested the Centre to bestow 'Bharat Ratna' on the seer. "I request the government to give him Bharat Ratna. He is worthy of getting the title. He was a great man from Karnataka and it is worth it to bestow the Bharat Ratna on him," he said. The party in its official Twitter handle also put out a picture of Gandhi meeting the seer. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Siddaganga Shri Shivakumara Swamiji, his selfless service to society will always be remembered," Congress said. "His ...